Get It - Dec 2012

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girlThedoornextAt homeHer mom’s house in Meerensee isher home-base, but Bridgitte spendsa lot of time travelling, training andmaking guest appearances at events.‘I miss my mom’s home-cookedmeals the most, especially the roastchicken and vegetables. And whenI’m home I like to spend time visitingfriends and family,’ she says.She has two half brothers, Luke(13) and Bryce (11) who live inGeorge and who she hopes to spendChristmas with this year.When it comes to relationships,Bridgitte just smiles and explainsthat it was difficult to maintain arelationship when she travelled somuch and her training schedule isalso hectic.But there have been a few daterequests since winning at theOlympics she confesses, but finds itall a bit amusing.Frilly, girlie dresses have never been herstyle, but now that she is an Olympicsuperstar, Bridgitte Hartley confesses shedoes like to dress up.The 29-year-old blonde Richards Baybeauty has become a celebrity overnightafter winning a bronze medal in the K1500m final at the London Olympics.Born in Sandton on 14 July 1983,Bridgitte started school at GlenstantiaPrimary School in Pretoria.After her parents separated, she movedto Empangeni with her mom Vera andbrother Sean and attended GranthamPark Primary.She remembers playing netball andtaking part in athletics and gymnastics.But surfing was her favourite pastimeand she represented Zululand in the SAjunior and senior championships.'I still surf for fun. It gives me a breakfrom training and it’s social,' she says.Bridgitte remembers her first job whichwas not a glamorous one - she paintedhouses.'My mom was an estate agent, so mybrother and I used to help her paintfor extra money. I was saving for a newsurfboard,' she says with a grin.'I was always hanging out at the beach.Favourite clothing: Comfy jeans and leather jacketBest book: SpudFavourite TV programme: Sports channelsFamily pet: Cara the dogSignature dish: Chocolate cupcakesWeakness: Pizza and chocolateI would get up early to surf so I wasn'tkeen on sleepovers as none of my friendsever wanted to wake up early.'Ironically, she never made the swimteam at school, but spent school holidaysworking as a lifeguard at Alkantstrandto earn extra money while she wasstudying.Fondly known as 'Nooks' to her mom,Bridgitte was not a shy child and herfamily knew she would perform whenshe was older, they just didn't know towhat audience.She started her high school career atJohn Ross College, but two years latermoved back to Pretoria to Pretoria Girls’High.'My dad thought it would be a goodidea for me to attend the school as it hada wide variety of sports and house plays.I went on to matriculate there.'It was then that Bridgitte startedpaddling with her dad, completingjust one Dusi canoe marathon as shepreferred sprint canoeing.At Pretoria University she enrolledfor a Bachelor of Science degree, butconfesses she failed chemistry anddecided to take up Human MovementScience instead.10 Get It Zululand December 12
Get MedalledGet It journalist Angela Kelly finds outmore about our Olympic medallist, Bridgitte HartleyStory & Photographer: Angela KellyDecember 12 Get It Zululand 11
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Get It - Dec 2012

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